This a good hardware combo?

[time_lord]

Hi, I posted a message here a couple of weeks back requesting feedback re. some capture cards.
I'm building a new HTPC (probably XP Pro), going to use it to view/record freeview (New Zealand) DVB-T using GB-PVR. One thing important to me - a quiet PC (if you could hear my current one you'd understand). Here are my main components, wondering if anyone has any comments or words of caution... in particular anyone got an htpc case from Lian (with their built-in IR remote)?

Video Card: Leadtek PX8500 GT TDH HDMI (fanless ;-) ), GeForce 8500 GT, 256MB, DDR2, PCIe-16
A/D Capture card: Hauppauge WinTV HVR 2200, PCIe (sounds like a goodie)
Case: Lian Li PC-C30IB (with VFD and IR Remote)

Other bits - may be a bit over-spec'd for a PVR, but I want to be able to do dev work/compile on this too
Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3P Motherboard (fanless), Core 2 Quad cpu, WD 500GB drive, 2GB 1066MHz DDR2.
Case has no power supply so trying to source a quiet PSU...

Cheers, Phil

[malchihi]

Unless you are going to be compiling C++, a quad core is not really a good investment. Dual core is much cheaper, and will provide similar performance.

[Deusxmachina]

Yeah, those darn power supplies and their noise. You can easily put a fan control on or rewire case fans to be quieter, but not so easy with the fans in a power supply.

8500GT has been plenty for me with all kinds of files and HD. I don't think the hardware acceleration works at all on my setup, though, so if it did I suppose there's a chance it would get taxed too much and I'd wish I had an 8600GT in there instead.

Interesting new tidbit on a computer forum recently about some rebadged 8500GT cards. Generally, any 64-bit card is usually not a good idea no matter what you're doing with it, but apparently some 8400GS cards are being bios-flashed by Nvidia and sold as 8500GTs, but they are 64-bit and only have 128mb memory and just are lousy in general.

[dmanindfw]

Hi, I posted a message here a couple of weeks back requesting feedback re. some capture cards.
I'm building a new HTPC (probably XP Pro), going to use it to view/record freeview (New Zealand) DVB-T using GB-PVR. One thing important to me - a quiet PC (if you could hear my current one you'd understand). Here are my main components, wondering if anyone has any comments or words of caution... in particular anyone got an htpc case from Lian (with their built-in IR remote)?

Video Card: Leadtek PX8500 GT TDH HDMI (fanless ;-) ), GeForce 8500 GT, 256MB, DDR2, PCIe-16
A/D Capture card: Hauppauge WinTV HVR 2200, PCIe (sounds like a goodie)
Case: Lian Li PC-C30IB (with VFD and IR Remote)

Other bits - may be a bit over-spec'd for a PVR, but I want to be able to do dev work/compile on this too
Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3P Motherboard (fanless), Core 2 Quad cpu, WD 500GB drive, 2GB 1066MHz DDR2.
Case has no power supply so trying to source a quiet PSU...

Cheers, Phil

I bought this PS and it has been great! Very solidly built, quiet, and is highly recommended...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6817151023. Additionally I bought a Lian Li case and is very well built....I absolutely love the quality of their cases. You have a winner on your hands.

[time_lord]

Unless you are going to be compiling C++, a quad core is not really a good investment. Dual core is much cheaper, and will provide similar performance.

Here in NZ getting the quad core adds about another NZ$100. I'm hoping that in the next year or 3 many more apps start supporting multiple cores better (and the windoze scheduler itself is better).

[time_lord]

I bought this PS and it has been great! Very solidly built, quiet, and is highly recommended...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6817151023. Additionally I bought a Lian Li case and is very well built....I absolutely love the quality of their cases. You have a winner on your hands.

Yes I looked quite closely at Seasonic (the s12) and was almost convinced... but it was one of those where the manufacturer published no specs on the noise level and only chose to say it was 'silent'. So despite the good reviews, I got cold feet. Actually it's now on their website listed as 'phased out'.
I ended up with a 600w Zalman (ZM600-HP) - read 5 reviews, one claimed it wasn't as good as Zalman think, but the rest were really positive. 600w is overkill, but it means even at 60% load it should run in the 'sweet spot' and the fan speed is still quite low (16dba?).

The Lian Li case has arrived and it is really nicely finished - the case cover is a beaut fit. Also they gave me one with card readers - nice. I have all parts now except motherboard, due next week - how frustrating!

Phil